Give to Caesar

“and [Jesus] asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then He said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’” Matthew 22:20-21
In Matt. 22:15-22 we see one of the many ways in which the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by His own words. They asked Him the question, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” If Jesus said it was right, He would become unpopular with the crowds, who resented the Romans and their heavy taxation. But if He said it was not right, they would go straight to the Roman authorities and tell them that Jesus was stirring up rebellion against them.
But Jesus does not answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Instead, He asks them to show Him a coin. The coin, of course, had Caesar’s name and picture on it. Then He utters the words, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
The picture and inscription implies ownership. Just as we write our children’s names on their clothing so that everyone knows who it belongs to, God has written His name on us (Rev. 3:12). We are made in His image and in His likeness (Gen. 1:26) – we bear the image of God. The coin bore Caesar’s name and image; it belonged to him, and therefore, Jesus said, what is Caesar’s should be given to Caesar. But we bear God’s name and His image, and we are to give ourselves to God (putting Him first in our lives, living to please Him).